Sample taking device



SAMPLE TAKINC DEVICE Filed Nov. 5, 1952 INVENTOR. Perc C. Sewers Flg. 2 I y Patented Nov. 24, i953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to sample taking devices,

and it has reference more particularly to a form of receptacle, generally referred to in the art to which it applies as a thief and which is designed for the taking of samples from a body of a liquid which may be confined Within a large tank or other form of container; the present device being designed primarily for the taking of samples of oil from within tank cars or from large storage tanks, but likewise is useful for the taking of samples of milk from tanks, cans or other containers.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a device of the above character comprising a closed container with a top inlet for filling and with an air relief tube leading from its top, useful as a handle for the lowering of the container into a tank for sample taking and which tube serves as an air outlet and may be conveniently covered at its upper end by the thumb of the hand in which it is held to prevent outflow of air from the container and thus to prevent any inflow of oil until the container has been lowered to the level at which it is desired to take the sample.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a sample taking device that is comprised of parts that may be readily and easily taken apart for the efiective cleaning and sterilization of all arts. p Still other objects are to be found in the details of construction of the various parts embodied in the device; in their assembled relationship and mode of use, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- Fig. 1 is a top view of the sample taking device of the present invention as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same, taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1 and particularly showing the float valve structure and valve housing.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of'the float and its housing, taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view showing the present device in side elevation, and illustrating its use in a sample taking operation.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- I designates a glass jar or container, here shown to be of the well known Mason jar character, having an'annular, metal collar ll threadplate or lid I2 over the open end of the container in a liquid and air tight joint. As shown best in Fig. 2, the lid 12 comprises a fiat circular plate with an extending peripheral flange l3 at its lower edge that rests flatly upon the top edge of the jar mouth. The annular collar I I has an inturned flange ll overlying the flange [3 as a means for drawing the parts together in an air sealed. joint with the tightening of the collar on the threaded neck of the jar.

Threaded through the plate l2, at one side of the center, is a tubular nipple I5 and attached to the upper end of this is the jar filling tube It. The tube I6 is attached to the nipple by means of a connecting nut I1 and immediately above the nut the tube is curved laterally and then downwardly and extends to a level that is below the level of the bottom of the jar and there terminates in an open end. Preferably this end is beveled as shown at IE to prevent its being closed in a filling operation if it should be engaged flatly against the bottom wall of the liquid containing tank from which the sample is being taken.

Threaded upwardly through the lid at the center thereof is the mounting shank of a valve housing 2!]. The housing is shouldered about its upper end as at 2| to engage against the under side of lid l2 in a tight joint, and it is formed interiorly with a coaxial float chamber 22 in which a cork float 23 is contained. This float is adapted to be lifted up against the top wall of the chamber to close over the lower end of an air outlet channel 24 that leads vertically through the shank and into the chamber. Threaded into the upper end of the shank 20' of the housing and into channel 24, is an elongated tube 25 which may be used as a handle for the handling or manipulation of the device and which also provides a means of escape for air from the jar or container I0 when it is being filled with liquid through the tube l6. 7

Threaded onto the lower end of the valve housing is a float retaining cap 36 formed with a central opening 3 l. The float is counterweighted by the application of a metal headed tack 32 to the lower end thereof. A tack of such weight is selectedthat it will prevent a too sensitive action of the float. The float also is formed in its side surfaces, from end to end, with V-shaped channels 33 as seen in Fig. 3.

In using this device for taking a sample of liquid that may be contained in a vat, tank or car, for example, from the liquid 35 shown in the container 36 in Fig. 4, the user grasps the upper end of the tube 25, as in Fig. l, and places his thumb over the upper end outlet of the tube. Then h immerses the jar in the liquid of the tank, moving it down until the lower end of tube 16 reaches the level at which the sample is to be taken. He then removes his thumb from the upper end of the tube and thus makes it possible for liquid in the tank 36 to flow into the jar through tube I6. As the jar fills, the air therein is expelled therefrom through tube 25. Finally the liquid lifts the float 23 upwardly against the top wall of the chamber 22 and causes it to close over the inner open end of the air channel 24. This stops outflow of air and incidentally stops any further inflow of liquid through the tube IE. Then the filled jar is lifted out by means of the tube 25, and the sample of liquid eontained therein is available upon removal of the collar I l and cover plate [2 from the jar.

By use of this device, samples may be taken hen; any l v i a am; to whi h h le e en ef the tube It n be a e p e ecl he Jar is sufiie ent y below h su c of qu d n th tank t us the u d o fl t rough th pi e in o h a L qu cann ente the ar du n its lowering into the tank nor can it enter the tube I6 provided that the upper end of tube 25 is kept closed. Therefore there is no danger of th samp ain ng an liqu d x ept tha from the desired level.

Devices of this kind are easy to use; easy to clean, easy to sterilize and keep in readiness for use. They may be made of metal, glass or any other suitable materials and in sizes desired or required for any particular use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Let-. ters Patent, is:

1. A sample takin device of the character described comprising a closed sample holding receptacle, fitted with a removable upper end clo-. sure plate, an open filling tube for the receptacle extended vertically at the outside thereof and having its upper end portion opening into the receptacle through the said upper end closure plate, and terminating at its lower end at a level that is slightly below the level of the lower end; wall of the receptacle, a valve housing fixed to the closure plate within the upper end of the receptacle; said housing having an inlet at its lower end and an outlet at its upper end, an air outlet tube of substantial length extended upwardly from the receptacl and connected at its lower end with said plate in communication with the outlet of said valve housing, and a float in the valve housing adapted to be lifted by liquid rising in the housing to close against the said outlet.

2. A sample taking device of the character described comprising a receptacle of Mason jar form fitted at its open end in an air and liquid tight joint with a removable closure plate, a nipple threaded through the plate and opening into the receptacle, a filling tube joined with the upper end of the nipple and turned laterally and downwardly therefrom, to extend along the side of the receptacle and to a point slightly below the level of'the bottom thereof, a valve housing fixed to the under side of the closure plate and having a valve chamber therein, said chamber havi g a lo er end inlet and an upper end outlet, a rigid air exhaust pipe of substantial length, open at its upper end and fixed at its lower end to, said valve housing in direct communication with the chamber outlet, and extended upward therefrom as a handle member for the device, and a float in the valve chamber adapted to be lifted by liquid rising therein to a position to be closed over the chamber outlet.

3. A device as in claim 1' including a collar that is removably threaded onto the mouth end of the jar and is formed with an inturned peripheral flang engaging the closure plate to efiect a liquid tight seal for the jar, and said plate, filling tube, valve housing and air exhaust pipe are rigidly joined and removable from the jar as a unit.

PERCY C. SAWERS.

References Cited in the file of this patent U ITED STATES P E TS Number Name Date 13161354 Johnson May 16, 1922 1,8 71,98i Hoff-man Aug. 16-, 1932 2,294,655 Einstein Sept. 1, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 160,249 Germany May 13, 1905 2,194 Great Britain 191 

